NKOTB Darien Lake

DJ Jazzy Jeff kicked off the night. Thursday, August 22, 2024, at Darien Lake. He was known for a role on the sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Was Will Smith’s best friend, always getting tossed out of the house. Jazz does what a DJ does, and that’s spinning all the popular dance tunes and mixes. He’s been friends with NKOTB since the beginning and now, on The Magic Summer Tour, is helping get the crowds fired up. Alongside Will Smith, the duo is renowned for their blend of hip-hop and R&B, with hits like “Summertime” and “Parents Just Don’t Understand,” which earned them the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance in the late 80’s.

Paula Abdul has the moves of a 20-year-old and performs until she knows her time is up! She might need a dose of oxygen during the show, but the 62-year-old puts on a top-notch set. Paula is known for her hits of “Rush Rush,” “Cold Hearted Snake,” and “Forever Your Girl” just to name a few. Let’s not forget she even spent time being a judge on American Idol. Paula Abdul is a multifaceted entertainer known for her music, dance, and television. Gained fame as a choreographer before transitioning into a successful music career. And between her and her backup dancers, she has no trouble entertaining the crowd. Not to mention, she keeps her dancers on their toes with move after move as well. Millions of followers and many tours under her belt makes me wonder what she has coming up next, as the NKOTB Tour will be ending soon.

The five guys from “Bean Town” were back in Central NY again and gave their “blockheads” a show that they were waiting to see. New Kids on the Block members Jonathan Knight, Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, and Danny Wood. One of the longest-running boy bands still around today. They should be in the Hall of Fame someday; they have earned their way in. The devoted band is all about getting each and every venue to try and be louder than the last. The screams will for sure be heard outside of the gates of the venue. The “blockheads,” as they have been called for decades, are a dedicated group of mainly women, and now their children and the men in their lives. The band, as Donnie says at Darien Lake, wasn’t even supposed to last, was never expected to grow as it did. Band members were all in their late teens when they began putting on shows, and the attention toward them grew by the thousands before they knew it. The pop group was originally formed in Boston in 1984, and most of their fans, I think, have been following them since.

The group’s widespread appeal extended far beyond their music; they garnered significant attention for their unique image and style, which went on to influence a generation of devoted fans. As they remain actively engaged in their craft, NKOTB continues to celebrate their rich legacy while embracing the ever-evolving future of pop music. The party started as soon as fans got wind that the NKOTB would be touring. Fans anxiously awaited tour dates and their turn to have these guys come through the area to see what they bring to the stage. Many travel all over from one show to the next to see these guys perform. One lady and her daughter traveled from North Carolina to Darien Lake, and another probably traveled about 7 hours from Long Island, NY.

Dedicated fans/blockheads are unlike many other concerts I’ve covered, dressed to play the part with merch from all the years and standing on their feet from the time the music starts until it’s time to leave. “Hangin’ Tough” and “Step By Step” are catchy and will have you singing along, “just because” a great show at Darien Lake, and I will be looking to cover them again.

The Summer Magic Tour will close out in Newark, NJ, Sept. 28th, and I must say, if you didn’t get a chance to see this tour, you missed a good one.